Argentina’s Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana as had been anticipated on Wednesday formally asked United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to interfere in the unilateral decisions Britain has made regarding the Falklands/Malvinas Islands issue and highlighted that from now on everyone has to wait until Ban acts within a good-solicitor framework.
The United Kingdom said on Tuesday it was willing to re-open talks with Argentina but not on Falkland Islands sovereignty or the development by the Islanders of a hydrocarbons industry. The statement came on the eve of a meeting of Argentina’s Foreign minister Jorge Taiana with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
The campaign by millionaire Scots businessman and ex-Para Tony Banks to raise funds for British soldiers traumatised by their wartime experiences will receive a shot in the arm, with the screening in April of a documentary charting his emotional return to the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands suffered a first cyber-war attack from Argentine hackers who hijacked the website of the Falkland Islands' weekly, Penguin New, posting reasons why the disputed Islands should belong to Argentina rather than Britain.
Argentine Tierra del Fuego Governor met this week with Coast Guard authorities in Ushuaia to coordinate the implementation of Decree 256 that regulates maritime traffic between Argentine ports and the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, and which could have an impact on the cruise industry.
A leading spokesperson for the Argentine government in Congress said that there is “no rupture of relations with Great Britain but a controversy over the Malvinas Islands” because of the oil drilling round set to begin in the coming hours in Falklands waters.
Britain and Argentina on a collision course over the oil exploration round in Falkland Islands waters, following an exchange of strong statements and actions, seemed to be sending converging messages about possible diplomatic contacts that could help find a way out to the standoff.
As the “Ocean Guardian” oil rig was this morning due to arrive at Desire Petroleum’s prospecting site 100 miles off the Falkland Islands, Argentina’s latest efforts to disrupt exploration were treated to a cool response by the United Kingdom and Falklands elected authorities, reports this Friday edition of the Penguin News.
The Falkland Islands reaffirmed its right to develop a hydrocarbons industry and anticipated that in spite of disruptive measures from Argentina the oil drilling round will commence as planned early next week, “weather permitting”.
The Argentine government is looking into the British oil companies involved in the Falkland Islands exploratory drilling operation checking on their possible links to interests in Argentina (and if so the infringement of legislation of Argentine legislation), according to reports in the Buenos Aires press.